TO OXFORD. 191 



however with some degree of contempt on their 

 more aged brethren. The patriarch of the room 

 acted as leader of the band, and made his arrange- 

 ments accordingly. As I had expressed my readi- 

 ness to lend any assistance in my power in the 

 proposed catch, he turned to me, and to my infinite 

 surprize and dismay, desired me to sing ' the cur? 

 On requesting to have my part more fully ex- 

 plained to me, that I might do it all due justice, I 

 was informed that when it came to my turn, I was 

 to chaunt out lustily, ' I sing cur,' and afterwards 

 join the chorus, plena voce. The old fellow then 

 began his part by shouting out, ' / sing Cob* ; 

 the next performer followed him by squeaking out, 

 6 I sing ler ; a third, with stentorian lungs, ex- 

 claimed, * / sing Tin* ; and then I had to add, 

 ' / sing her? The chorus was then vociferated, 

 the hint having been given by a loud tap on the 

 table, A Cobler and a Tinker.' The catch, 

 however, did not end here, for it went on ad li- 

 bitum, getting louder and louder every instant, ""till 

 the venerable old walls echoed with the shouts and 

 laughter of its jolly old fellows, and they were at 

 last obliged to stop from mere exhaustion. Never 

 shall I forget the scene. Their sides shook, while 

 they wiped their eyes, which twinkled with glee 

 and joviality, and it was some time before they 

 recovered from the effects of the exertions their 

 bodies and lungs had undergone. Some other 



